Investment in hotels on Phu Quoc Island reap high profits

A recent study by CBRE showed that the luxury hotel market in Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province has had a more impressive performance than other major tourist cities in Vietnam such as Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, DaNang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

According to CBRE, the average RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) of the two highest-ranking hotels in Phu Quoc in 2013 was $124, compared to $115.8 in Mui Ne (Binh Thuan province), the “kingdom of resorts”. The figures were $123.2 and $102.27 in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, respectively.

At the same time, the average occupancy rate of luxury hotels in Phu Quoc remained stable at 75 percent in the last three years. The small hotels (from 17 to 43 rooms) have occupancy rates of 80 percent or more.

The resorts built in a “bungalow” style had higher occupancy rates than traditional hotels. Most tourists, especially foreigners, preferred to stay in hotels close to nature.

The luxury three- and four-star hotels had an average occupancy rate of 80 percent. It was only 60 percent for standard four-star hotels.The average price for luxury four-star hotels was $180-200 per night compared to $50-100 per night for standard four-star hotels, lower than the average price of luxury three-star hotels.

The room rates are expected to fall in the future when the price of electricity on the island decreases by 50-60 percent thanks to its connection to the national grid.

The hotel occupancy rate was very high]from January to March and gradually fell in mid-May to September. The occupancy rate recovered in early October.

Both the occupancy and room rates peaked in the period of Christmas and New Year in December and January. They were at the lowest levels in June when the rainy season is at its peak.

There are two types of hotels in Phu Quoc for foreign tourists. The first offers the most basic amenities, aiming at tourists who love nature and ecotourism. The room rate for these hotels is around $50 per night. The second type is the luxury hotel with room rates from $100 to $180 per night.

The number of high-end hotel rooms for foreigners in Phu Quoc is much lower than other coastal areas such as Da Nang, Binh Thuan or Nha Trang.

With 952 luxury hotel rooms, the size of the Phu Quoc hotel market is one-fifth of Da Nang’s and Mui Ne’s and one-third of Nha Trang’s.